When is a christian NOT a Christian?

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illini1959

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Hi, illini. I'm not challenging you ...;) Just a question...so if you do not believe, say...in the Virgin birth or the Trinity or being Born Again (as some have said) or
say, Jesus performed miracles or he rose from the dead or other things I am just making up!!!...that's ok?
You are still a Christian with that one belief? (You did say ''as per NT''...so I guess one would have to believe
in every word of it?)....would you disregard the definition of a what is a Christian that was set up?
(Meaning the Nicene Council's definition that no one has challenged?)
If you think I'm putting you on the spot and came by casually, I'm sorry and it's ok....forget the 3rd degree!:)

Hi Miss Hepburn, I don't think you're putting me on the spot at all! :)

Receiving Christ as one's Savior is being born-again. If the Nicene Council's definition agrees with Scripture, great. If not, go by Scripture. Anything that proclaims a different gospel than what Christ and the Apostles taught is false doctrine.

My reply was pretty basic since the OP just wanted our opinion and not a bunch of bible verses.

Romans 10:9 puts it simply - "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Someone already said that the deeper things come later. We learn and grow as we study God's word and are (hopefully) discipled by a more mature believer.

Does that help explain my post? Feel free to ask anytime!
 
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Triumph1300

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How about if you never read anything and simply believe and love Christ? What if you somehow one day receive the spirit of God the father and his only begotten son.

Well....that would be possible.
And....that would classify you as being saved.

Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Unearned. A gift.
Our merits merit nothing. So, let grace happen.

Of all the things you must earn in life, God’s unending affection is not one of them. You have it!
 

Triumph1300

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Spiritually revealed. Many if not most pastors don't teach what the Spirit of God has taught them; they teach what their denomination has. They teach the traditions of men in nearly all things, especially doctrine.

And that's how we ended up with all these different denominations fighting amongst each other.
It's more or less what you see happening on this forum. :)
 

GodsGrace

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It's a relevant question, and yes, it's getting away from the topic.
OK.
But here's my answer.
WE CAN want to be saved.
And God will save us if we want to be saved.

Of course, He FOREKNEW who would want to be saved...
those are the "elect" and the "called".
But the Hebrews are also the elect.
And the called.
We have to be careful when speaking spiritual talk.
 

amadeus

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hey Vallejo! You ever catch the gospel hour there downtown at the Baptist Church?
No, I am afraid not. We were there for only about 8 months, when my job transferred from my place of work in Richmond, CA to Merced, CA ...too far away to commute. So we moved. That would have been in about 1981.
 
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Pearl

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Yet, a Hindu could acknowledge the need for God's love and also a Muslim...so acknowledging grace and forgiveness thru Jesus...
that would be very particularly Christian!
I know both ex Hindus and Muslims who are now Christians because the Holy Spirit led them into the truth.
What if a person never really is Born Again, cuz it is something that knocks you off your feet...they are just your everyday church going
good guy...not born again,yet...( I ask only cuz some think THAT is a must to be a Christian...not trying to trap you!!!!!! ok?) Ha!
There are many of them, regular churchgoers, especially in the traditional churches or some of the other so-called Christian churches. And believing in the virgin birth or any other biblical truth won't make them Christians.

I hope you find your cat.
 
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Miss Hepburn

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Thanks all of you for posting with me. xo :)

I would like to comment that I never knew that there are people that think a Christian must be Born Again...(I am)...
but I was not always...and I was plenty Christian and back then I did believe in every single word of the Nicene Creed...
probably woulda debated strongly in favor of every single thing said...like the Apostle's Creed, as mentioned.
Said it with a filled heart and conviction...went to Mass everyday, took Communion every morning, said the Rosary every single night.
BUT, I was not Born Again at that time...nor Baptized in the Holy Spirit, either. I was 'very' Christian.
I know others think differently...good thing it doesn't matter what others think, eh? :)
 

Pearl

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Thanks all of you for posting with me. xo :)

I would like to comment that I never knew that there are people that think a Christian must be Born Again...(I am)...
but I was not always...and I was plenty Christian and back then I did believe in every single word of the Nicene Creed...
probably woulda debated strongly in favor of every single thing said...like the Apostle's Creed, as mentioned.
Said it with a filled heart and conviction...went to Mass everyday, took Communion every morning, said the Rosary every single night.
BUT, I was not Born Again at that time...nor Baptized in the Holy Spirit, either. I was 'very' Christian.
I know others think differently...good thing it doesn't matter what others think, eh? :)
Same with me. All my life I thought I was a Christian because I believed in God and went to church and said the Lord's prayer and the creeds but it wasn't until I was given a booklet called 'Journey Into Life' that I realised I really wasn't and so was able to eventually be re-born and 'walk in the light' and see truths I had never seen before.
 

farouk

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Same with me. All my life I thought I was a Christian because I believed in God and went to church and said the Lord's prayer and the creeds but it wasn't until I was given a booklet called 'Journey Into Life' that I realised I really wasn't and so was able to eventually be re-born and 'walk in the light' and see truths I had never seen before.
It's so wonderful when God's Word itself brings light and life and understanding of the Saviour and His Work. :)
 
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brakelite

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:rolleyes: yes, some ppl just need a prescription huh
Actually, no. A good brisk walk in the park or out in the countryside is far more effective and no side effects except for increased health and well being.

Esp if they are offensive and hurt our feelings, right?
It never bothers me when people know me well enough to speak the truth, and they are right. It used to bother me when they presumed they knew me and spoke BS . In time I overcame that. So the 'our' isn't relevant.
A man's enemies will be those of his own household bl. See those are the ppl who refuse to witness or hurt your feelings, bro. "See something say something" is strickly for strangers, see
Disagree. You haven't met my wife. She is not walking with the Lord as well she might... But should I neglect my walk or act contrary to the way, she very quickly remind me...a best friend... Not everyone is so fortunate. As in the past, the time will come when those in our household will betray us.
 

Philip James

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BUT, I was not Born Again at that time...nor Baptized in the Holy Spirit, either

Hello sister,

Have you such little trust in the faith of your fathers and mothers and the community that asked the gift of Faith for you?

Perhaps HE was with you all this time and that Faith finally flowered...

Peace be with you!
 
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brakelite

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Works are all that will be judged bro sorry. see you're inferring a judgment here that you can't Quote nor find anywhere?
KJV Revelation 14
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

In the above passage I think the ripe fruit is equated with works... Our works are the fruit of our relationship with God. Works, whether good or evil, are the fruit of whatever mindset, worldview, state of heart etc we may have don't you think? Works/fruit of righteousness, are the same thing yes?
You still don't know me very well huh. For years I have been writing that we shall be judged by our works. But scripture speaks of tares and wheat not being harvested until the ears are fully formed otherwise there is an identity problem.
Judgement comes when both camps... The church (those that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus) and the world have reached their fullest potential, for either good or evil. The fruit is ripe. The harvest is ready. That is the way I see it .
it is a good verse BL, unfortunately that says confess, and we profess that
Sure, for some it is merely a profession. Such as for those who cleave to some Trinitarian formula which denies that Christ could be an only begotten son in any other way other than metaphorically.
 

Reggie Belafonte

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It comes down to who is not truly of the faith in Christ Jesus.
Jesus said who are his and who the ones who claim to do his will but don't know him truly at all.
If one is of this world you are not a Christian.
A true Christian has the Holy Spirit as ones guide first and foremost.
If one is looking to the trends of this world to guide you, then one is lost.
If one looks to a government as for guidance then one is lost.
If one believes in Socialism then they are lost, not to mention Communism, Marxism, or Political Correctness then one is a Satanist.
If one looks to the Jews or supports the so called State that is now being called Israel, they are an Anti-Christ and not to be trusted at all, fact is that true Jews don't believe it or support it, so why would a Christian.
If anyone looks to the Talmud or their so called Zionist mob, then be sure that one is a Satanist just as any Nazi is, the two are like two peas in a pod who are of insane evil. in 1975 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which defined Zionism as the most blatant form of racism and radical discrimination. but his was repealed in 1992, why ? one could only wonder why, well they must of took control over of it. as the madness of evil far exceeds even Hitler's worst ranting by far, if anyone bothered to look into it all you would be shocked and stunned, it's truly a work of unimaginable evil, not to mention the total ignorance of people nowadays, not to mention the Churches are all quiet on this issue, so that proves that the RRC and all the Prots are just stooges to a power that is just so evil that the corruption is so vast. Jesus said you will know them by there works !
 
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Miss Hepburn

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RE: ''BUT, I was not Born Again at that time...nor Baptized in the Holy Spirit, either...''-Miss Hepburn
Have you such little trust in the faith of your fathers and mothers and the community that asked the gift of Faith for you?
Perhaps HE was with you all this time and that Faith finally flowered...
I have no idea what this means.
Hi @aspen, long time :)...but, why did you like this, it's the
only reason why I didn't pass over it...care to explain what on earth it means?
And God is always with me!
Oh, how I dislike riddles.
 
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bbyrd009

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Thank you Sir.
Only time I heard that someone spoke in tongues was when they’re possessed.

I don’t believe in the speaking in tongues is this true?
they are even "confused" in Scripture, huh? Seems like? That was not an accident i guess, and was put in there that way for a reason too imo. Which any two ppl have the exact same def of SiT?
 

aspen

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RE: ''BUT, I was not Born Again at that time...nor Baptized in the Holy Spirit, either...''-Miss Hepburn
I have no idea what this means.
Hi @aspen, long time :)...but, why did you like this, it's the
only reason why I didn't pass over it...care to explain what on earth it means?
And God is always with me!
Oh, how I dislike riddles.

Hi Miss Hepburn - nice to see you again.
I liked it because I believe infant baptism is valid and I think the post is addressing it.